Promotional item insertable into a paper roller

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates generally to advertising inserts, and more particularly to an insert comprising a promotional item such as a coupon or advertisement located inside a paper roller used to carry paper products and the like. A paper roller having an interior, an exterior, and two openings can include a removable promotional item contained in the interior, where the item has a tab used to extract the promotional item. The tab can either extend generally out of the roller, or can connect two promotional items by forming a bridge across the interior of the roller. The bridge will cause the promotional item to be dispelled when it contacts a rod used to support the roll.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to promotional items, and more particularly to a promotional item such as a coupon or advertisement shaped to fit inside a paper roller and be removed upon an initial use of the paper roller.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Many products today are sold on a cardboard or heavy paper roller, such as for example paper towels, cellophane wrap, aluminum foil bathroom tissue, and gift wrapping paper. In each of these examples, sheets of product are wound around the paper roller and unwound as needed by the consumer. When the consumer reaches the end of the roll of product, the bare roller is discarded and a new roll of product replaces the old. If there is not a replacement roll handy at the time the old roll is empty, the purchaser must go out and replace the old roll with a new one at this time. At a time when manufacturers know that their product is in demand and that the consumer is likely to buy either a similar product or a competitor's product, the empty roller has not been fully utilized as an advertising vehicle to influence the consumer's next purchase. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/559,938 describes a patent for a paper roller with promotional indicia that is on the external surface of the roller. In contrast, here the promotional item is contained within the interior of the roller and is especially suited to influence the consumer when the consumer first uses the product as opposed to when the product runs out. A difficulty with placing a paper product inside of a roller is that the paper product will most often conform with the interior wall of the roller, making it essentially invisible to a user unaware of its presence. The present invention is designed to overcome this difficulty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates generally to a promotional item such as a coupon or advertisement configured to fit within a paper roller. The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a paper roller having an interior, an exterior, and two openings, with a removable promotional item contained in the interior, where the promotional item is comprised of a tab connecting a first promotional item section and a second promotional item section. The tab connecting the two sections spans the diameter of the roller and provides a means for dispelling the promotional item from the tube when the roller is placed on a rod. That is, when the roll of product with the promotional item inside the roller is placed on a rod used to hold the product, the rod will contact the tab of the promotional item and push the tab and promotional item through and out the roller. The consumer is thus exposed to reinforcing promotional exposure at the time of first use of the product, which will hopefully encourage the consumer to purchase the product again when needed.

[0004] Each promotional indicia section may be comprised of a coupon, a contest entry form, an advertisement regarding the manufacturer's product, consumer information comparing a plurality of products, a sample of a new product by the same manufacturer, a novelty item such as a toy, items that can be collected and traded for a prize, or other types of promotional indicia. In an alternative embodiment, the paper roller has an interior and an exterior with promotional indicia on the interior and a tab protruding out of the interior.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The exact nature of this invention, as well as its objects and advantages, will become readily apparent upon reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof, and wherein:

[0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention with a promotional item in the interior;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention illustrating the roller with a promotional item in the interior and a tab protruding out of the interior;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention illustrating the roller with a promotional item in the interior and a tab spanning an opening of the roller;

[0009]FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the promotional item, shown with the tab projecting out;

[0010]FIG. 5 is a third, or preferred, embodiment of the promotional item, shown in an unrolled or plan view;

[0011]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the promotional item shown in a rolled state, as it would be in the roller; and

[0012]FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of a third embodiment, shown with a rod in the process of pushing out the promotional item.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide an insert for a roller of the type on which wound sheets of consumer products are distributed, where the insert comprises a promotional item.

[0014]FIG. 1 illustrates a cardboard roller of the type commonly sold with commercial products such as bathroom tissue, paper towels, aluminum foil, and the like. In a first embodiment of the present invention, a roller 10, having two openings, 30 and 31, is shown in a perspective view with an exterior 20 and a promotional item 50 contained in an interior 40. The promotional item 50 can take up the entire interior 40 of the roller 10 or it could comprise a portion of the interior 40. A promotional item 50 can comprise a coupon, a contest entry form, an advertisement regarding the manufacturer's product, consumer information comparing a plurality of products, a sample of a new product by the same manufacturer, a novelty item such as a toy, items that can be collected and traded for a prize, or other types of promotional items.

[0015] A consumer is more likely to make a repeat purchase of the manufacturer's product because of the potential for savings that inclusion of a coupon in the roller presents. A contest entry form may incite a consumer to make multiple purchases of the manufacturer's product in an effort to have more chances to win. Entry forms can include slogans such as “buy more of brand x tissue paper and increase your chances to win.” Advertising and consumer information included inside the roller is also likely to generate increased sales. The inclusion of a novelty item inside the roller may induce a consumer to choose the manufacturer's product over a competing product. Where items are included in the roller, the manufacturer can offer a sliding scale of increasingly better prizes for more items collected and thereby induce consumers to buy more of a product.

[0016]FIGS. 2 and 3 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The roller 10 having an exterior 20 is shown with the promotional item 50 in the interior 40 and a tab 55 protruding out of the interior 40. The roller 10 has two openings, 30 and 31. The position of tab 55 with respect to the opening 31 of the roller 10 can be either folded over the edge of the roller 10 as shown in FIG. 2, or tucked inside the roller such that it blocks a clear passage through the roller as shown in FIG. 3. When exposed over the edge of the roller as shown in FIG. 2, the tab 55 is clearly visible to the consumer and invites the removal of the promotional item thereby. When tucked inside the roller as shown in FIG. 3, the tab 55 will be suddenly and perhaps unexpectedly thrust outward when the roller is placed on a rod, surprising and gaining the immediate attention of the consumer.

[0017]FIG. 4 shows the promotional item 50 unrolled, from a top view and with the tab 55 projecting out.

[0018]FIG. 5 is a third embodiment of the promotional indicia 50 shown in a plan or unrolled view. The indicia 50 is shown in its preferred embodiment having a tab 55 in between a first promotional item section 57 and a second promotional item section 58. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the promotional item 50. The promotional item 50 is shown in a rolled state, as it would be in the roller. The item 50 is shown having a tab 55 connecting a first promotional item section 57 and a second promotional item section 58. Both first promotional item section 57 and second promotional item section 58 are semi-cylindrical in shape, allowing the promotional item 50 to fit into a roller 10.

[0019]FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of the third embodiment, where the roller 10 is shown with a rod 100 in the process of pushing out the promotional item 50 out of the roller 10. In FIG. 7, the rod 100 is inserted from opening 30, so that the rod 100 comes into contact with the tab 55 after traversing the interior 40 of the roller 10. In contrast, FIG. 8 shows the rod 100 inserted from opening 31, so that the rod 100 comes into contact with the tab 55 before traversing the interior 40 of the roller 10. Generally, a roller 10 is used in conjunction with some with some type of rod 100, usually by placing the roller 10 on a rod 100. The rod 100 pushes against the tab 55 causing the promotional item 50 to be pushed out of the roller 10. The sudden appearance of the promotional indicia 50 from the interior 40 of the roller 10 will garner a consumer's attention causing him to take notice of the promotional indicia 50.

[0020] In the alternative embodiments of the invention, the consumer may easily remove the promotional item 50 using the tab 55, which protrudes out of the roller, or using some other object, such as a pencil, to facilitate the removal. The presence of the promotional item will assist a manufacturer in generating repeat business and influencing the sale of its products to its customers or promoting other products to its customers.

[0021] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved paper roller having an interior, an exterior, and two openings, said paper roller having a removable promotional item contained within the interior of the roller, and where the promotional item is comprised of a tab connecting a first section and a second section, said tab traversing the interior of the roller when the promotional items is disposed within the roller.
 2. A promotional item adapted to be disposed within the interior of a paper roller comprising two sections curled into semi-cylinders, said semi-cylinders connected by a tab attached to a first end of each semi-cylinder such that, when said promotional item is disposed within the roller, the tab spans substantially the diameter of said roller.
 3. The promotional item of claim 2 wherein the two sections are rectangular prior to being curled on each other to form a cylindrical configuration insertable into a paper roller, said roller having an interior, an exterior and two openings, where the tab occupies a position in the middle of the roller such that a rod passing through the roller will contact the tab.
 4. The promotional item of claim 2 wherein a first promotional item section comprises a coupon.
 5. The promotional item of claim 4 wherein a second promotional item section comprises a coupon.
 6. The promotional item of claim 2 wherein said a first promotional item section comprises a contest entry form.
 7. The promotional item of claim 2 wherein said first promotional item section comprises an advertisement.
 8. The promotional item of claim 2 wherein said first promotional item section comprises information comparing a plurality of products.
 9. The promotional item of claim 2 wherein said first promotional item section comprises a sample of a product.
 10. The promotional item of claim 2 wherein said first promotional item comprises a novelty
 11. The promotional item of claim 2 wherein said first promotional item comprises an item that can be collected and redeemed for at least one prize.
 12. An improved paper roller having an interior and an exterior, said paper roller having a promotional item contained within the interior of the roller, and where the promotional item is removable from the roller.
 13. The improved paper roller of claim 12 wherein said promotional item comprises a coupon.
 14. The improved paper roller of claim 12 wherein said promotional item comprises a contest entry form.
 15. The improved paper roller of claim 12 wherein said promotional item comprises an advertisement regarding a manufacturer's product.
 16. The improved paper roller of claim 12 wherein said promotional item comprises information comparing a plurality of products.
 17. The improved paper roller of claim 12 wherein said promotional item comprises a sample of a new product.
 18. The improved paper roller of claim 12 wherein said promotional item comprises a novelty item.
 19. The improved paper roller of claim 12 wherein said promotional item comprises an item that can be collected and redeemed for a prize.
 20. An improved paper roller having an interior and an exterior, said paper roller having a promotional item contained substantially within the interior, said promotional item having a first portion adapted to conform to the inner wall of the roller and a second portion adapted to extend from the first portion in a manner non-conforming with the inner wall of the roller.
 21. The improved paper roller of claim 20 wherein said second portion of the promotional item comprises a tab extending out of the roller.
 22. The improved paper roller of claim 20 wherein said second portion of the promotional item comprises a tab disposed in the roller and projecting across the interior of the roller. 